Volume 4, Issue 38 - December 26 1999

Knoxville Dentist

The The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported that Scientologist dentist
Richard Brittain has been sentenced for fraud.
"After sentencing Dr. Richard E. Brittain Jr., 44, to serve a year in
prison for the offense, U.S. District Judge Leon Jordan recommended that
Brittain apply for a license which will allow him to practice pro bono
dentistry under the supervision of another dentist for a limited period of
time. Brittain, who voluntarily surrendered his license in 1997 after an
investigation into his activities, had faced from 18 to 24 months behind
bars for bilking the Medicaid/TennCare program and private dental
insurance plans out of more than $200,000 over a five-year period.
"After attending a management training program conducted by the Church of
Scientology in 1992, Brittain began offering his LaFollette office staff
free cruises or $1,000 cash bonuses if they met the revenue-boosting goals
he set, according to his plea-agreement papers. He also 'engaged in
actions' which caused the staff to submit the false claims on his behalf.
According to the agreement papers, Brittain and his office submitted
claims from 1992 to 1997 for services that were not performed or not
medically necessary. 'He profited tremendously,' Weddle said. 'When he
was first approached by the TBI, he willfully concealed files and
instructed employees to manufacture notations in dental files that would
disguise the fraud.'"
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Jenna Elfman

The Daily Radar web site reported that Scientology celebrity Jenna Elfman
recently refused to participate in a charity autograph auction.
"During the last holiday season, the Dharma & Greg star refused to take
part in a celebrity autograph auction for an organization that raised
money for the care of children with HIV. As a brainwashed devotee of The
Church of Scientology, the bah-humbugy Elfman stated that she couldn't
support any organization that raised money for AIDS research or relief
because 'AIDS is a state of mind, not a disease.' Get over it! They're
babies, for Buddha's sake!! (or should we say 'for Xenu's sake' -- in
honor of her wacky alien leader/god?). Ironically, Scientology megacelebs
Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and John Travolta all donated autographs for the
same auction."
Message-ID: Pine.BSF.4.21.9912220721120.45840-100000@web2.sea.nwserv.com

Germany

Wired News reported on December 21st on the controversy in Germany over a
Scientologist-owned company making a component of Windows 2000.
"Is there Scientology in your software? That's the question confronting
Microsoft in Germany, where an alleged connection to Scientology in
Windows 2000 has prompted a government inquiry into the operating system
software. Laws in the German states of Hamburg and Bavaria require that
companies with government contracts and some private companies be free of
connections to the Church of Scientology.
"Executive Software's CEO Craig Jensen is a member of the Church of
Scientology and has boasted that his staff is trained according to
administrative systems developed by the Church of Scientology. Jensen has
attributed his company's success in selling its defragmentation utility
DisKeeper to a 12-volume encyclopedia on managing organizations written by
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. 'Our staff is trained on these
procedures,' Jensen said in a 1992 statement.
"Michael Ziegler, spokesman for the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior.
said the issue for many Germans is state security. 'It's not only an issue
that concerns Bavaria but the whole of Germany. That means the [federal]
Office for the Protection of the Constitution is checking into it,'
Ziegler said Monday. Microsoft spokesperson Mark Thomas said the
technological concerns raised unfounded. 'We've looked a this issue very
carefully and there's really no issue for people to be concerned about,'
Thomas said. The software is put through rigorous review and it poses no
data security threat to companies, he said."
From Hamburger Abendblatt on December 24th:
"In response to the apprehension that this could be a set-up in regard to
the the flow of data, some of which is highly sensitive, in the Hamburg
government apparatus, the speaker of the leading revenue office stated:
'We take the matter seriously.'
"Technical computer magazine 'c't' wrote on the subject that Windows
provider Microsoft had 'handled a problem with the integration of the
Executive product in Windows 2000, which was taken seriously by at least a
few potential major customers.' The major customers would not only include
Hamburg, but also other German states and agencies, as well as large
firms. A computer expert told the 'Abendblatt': it cannot be ruled out
that in the 'tidying up' of the hard disk, files could be transmitted out
over the internet to an unknown address.
"As do other companies, Executive Software belongs to the 'World Institute
of Scientology Enterprises' (WISE), a federation of firms which are
uniformly managed according to the ideology of sect founder L. Ron
Hubbard. And yet more: a report from the work group on Scientology
directed by Ursula Caberta to the citizenry stated that a WISE enterprise
had just as much of an obligation to spread Scientology ideology in
society as do Scientology organizations or missions. Caberta on the
Windows 2000 problem: 'If it goes together with Microsoft, then it should
not be underestimated.' Her advice: 'hands off.'
"Information Technology Professor Klaus Brunnstein also stated about
Windows 2000 that it was conceivable that the software in question
contained a function which could forward files to unauthorized points
unknown. That would not necessarily be perceptible to the PC user, nor
would it have to appear under emails sent. Hamburg agencies still have
the question of whether they can continue contractual obligations with
Microsoft. That is to say, the city made a decision in 1996 not to make
purchases from companies which operated according to Hubbard's technology.
What is not clear is whether that also applies when other providers are
part of the picture."
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Lisa McPherson

The St. Petersburg Times reported that two organizations are forming in
Clearwater under the name of Lisa McPherson, who died in Scientology's
care in 1995.
"Vowing to speak out against 'the propaganda of hate,' a new organization
of local Scientologists is gearing up to counter the efforts of Robert S.
Minton, the New England millionaire who is setting up shop in downtown
Clearwater to oppose the Church of Scientology. The new organization is
called the Lisa McPherson Foundation, named for the veteran Scientologist
whose 1995 death while in the care of church members has saddled
Scientology with a lawsuit, a criminal prosecution and increased pressure
from its critics.
"And, in an added twist that local Scientologists find appalling, the case
has resulted in McPherson's name being used against the church they say
she loved. Although McPherson had been a practicing Scientologist for 13
years, the church's critics consider her a martyr for their cause. The
name of Minton's group, for example, is the Lisa McPherson Trust, which
plans to present a dark picture of Scientology to locals and provide 'exit
counseling' for those who want to leave the church.
"In contrast, the Lisa McPherson Foundation seeks to pull McPherson's name
back into the Scientology camp by opposing Minton at every turn and by
'standing up for religious tolerance,' said Bennetta Slaughter, the
foundation's leader. Slaughter, a prominent Scientologist in Clearwater,
was McPherson's longtime friend and employer at AMC Publishing Co. 'I
will, in fact, counter any hate that will come from them and I will handle
that,' Slaughter said of Minton and his group in an interview last week.
'They are not going to poison this town.' The foundation has about 300
members, Slaughter said.
"Minton responded, saying he primarily is opposed to Scientology's strict
'ethics' system, which he called harmful. He cited records that came to
light after McPherson's death indicating she was struggling under a
Scientology ethics program being administered at Slaughter's company. In a
wrongful death lawsuit filed by McPherson's family and financed by Minton,
that ethics program is alleged to have caused the severe mental breakdown
that played a key role in her death. 'Bennetta Slaughter is herself part
and parcel of the Scientology abuse process,' Minton said.
"He said he plans to close his purchase of a local headquarters on Jan. 5.
He has said the building is next to a Scientology property in downtown
Clearwater, but has not named the location. The staff will include former
Scientologists who want to share their perceptions of the church with
current members."
MSNBC reported on December 18th on a lawsuit by Scientology challenging
the authenticity of documents naming the executor of Lisa's estate.
"It could be a year before a Pinellas judge makes a decision whether a
critical document in an $80 million lawsuit against the Church of
Scientology was forged. The case stems from the mysterious death of
Scientologist Lisa McPherson. The legal question now is whether Lisa's mom
signed over permission to the sue the Church of Scientology before her own
death two years ago. Scientology lawyers say Fannie McPherson's signature
on a key document is forged. Friday, one of her surviving sisters
testified it is not. One handwriting expert says the signature is real,
and another says it's forged.
"Ann Carlson, Lisa's Aunt, testified to the validity of the signature:
'Were you present when that document was signed?' 'Yes.' 'Where was it
signed?' 'In Fannie's home in Texas.' 'Who signed 'Fannie B. McPherson' to
that document?' 'It looks like her signature to me.' 'Did you see her do
it?' 'Yes.'"
Bennetta Slaughter, Lisa McPherson's employer until her death, failed this
week in an attempt to avoid a deposition with former Scientologists in the
room.
"CW Scieno drama queen Bennetta Slaughter was held in contempt this
morning for failure to be deposed by Mr. Dandar with Jesse Prince and
Stacy Brooks in the room. A tearful Slaughter pleaded with Judge Moody to
keep Prince and Brooks out of her deposition. When Judge Moody held her in
contempt, sanctioned her about $500 and ordered her to deposition, she
interrupting the Judge to no avail."
The St. Petersburg Times reported that the criminal trial of Scientology
for Lisa's death will be delayed until October, 2000.
"A criminal trial has been delayed seven months as prosecutors and lawyers
for the Church of Scientology find themselves mired in what is becoming an
extraordinarily complex case. The trial now is scheduled for Oct. 16.
Scientology is arguing in part that the prosecution is burdening the
church and its members as they try to practice their religion, an alleged
violation of the First Amendment and the Florida Religious Freedom
Restoration Act of 1998. They say the case should be dismissed.
"In response, the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office argues that
neither the First Amendment nor state law gives people the right to break
the law under the guise of religion. They argue that McPherson's
treatment, which included forced medication and being held against her
will, had nothing to do with Scientology's religious practice."
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Lisa McPherson Trust

Bob Minton announced the opening of the Lisa McPherson Trust offices in
Clearwater.
"We of the Lisa McPherson Trust, will open our doors to you on January 6,
2000 at 33 N. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater, Florida 33757, Telephone:
(727) 467-9335. We will be there to help you make those happier times
return again to your life."
Message-ID: h0b76s4a0i8o1a273tqdkgeet9c5st6fs2@4ax.com

Phoenix History

The Scottsdale Tribune published a description of Scientology's early days
in Phoenix
"The 'Phoenix years' of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard were among his
most fruitful, say those who worked with the man who laid the groundwork
for founding the Church of Scientology while a Phoenician. In 1952 at the
age of 41, Hubbard moved his family to Phoenix. First leasing office space
at 1405 N. Central Ave., his organization would rent the downtown
locations for offices and training. He made the area his base until 1955
when he moved permanently from the Valley. But during his stay, Hubbard
was remembered for riding fast motorcycles, owning horses and indulging
his insatiable need to travel, lecture and write.
"Hubbard moved from Los Angeles to Phoenix because he liked the desert,
Swanson said. 'He had a house near Camelback Mountain that he had gotten
from Jimmy the Greek (Snyder) of all people - this was the rumor,' Swanson
said. Hubbard apparently 'had done some kind of work' for the legendary
oddsmaker, social gadfly and TV sports analyst, so Snyder deeded the house
over to Hubbard. He also owned another house downtown, Swanson said.
Hubbard was 'all business,' Swanson said, describing him as a 'very
charming, very friendly, very personable' 6-foot, 200-pound man with red
hair and an unsinkable confidence in his mission.
"'The Phoenix area has special significance for the church
internationally' because of what Hubbard did while living here, said the
Rev. Leslie Durhman, a minister of the Church of Scientology of Arizona
which relocated to Mesa about five years ago. 'During this time, Mr.
Hubbard gave hundreds of lectures and wrote more than 20 books, all
dealing with the field of the spirit and of the attainment of freedom and
happiness for the individual,' she said. 'Most notably, Mr. Hubbard
presented his 'Phoenix Lectures' here, lectures that mapped out the
religious and philosophical roots of the Scientology religion.'
"'We have about 6,000 parishioners who come in from time to time to do
services here,' said Kelly Jaroff, who has been a minister on staff for
two years and a Scientologist for 17 years. At the church services last
Sunday, just six people attended the 20-minute worship that largely
included readings and creeds from Hubbard's vast writings. 'A lot of our
parishioners attend other churches,' Jaroff said in explaining the small
turnout. Scientologists often choose to remain part of other faiths, she
said." went and looked and saw, and that's what he thought.'
Message-ID: 3865975b.4664335@news.primenet.com

Protest Summary

Bruce Pettycrew protested in Mesa, Arizona this week.
"The Religion section of the Arizona Republic for Saturday had a notice in
the meetings section stating that the Arizona Co$ was holding a 25th
anniversary service at 11:00 Sunday, followed by an open house from 1:00
to 5:00. Jeff Jacobsen and Kathy and I arrived at 10:30 to picket. There
were 9 cars in the parking lot, and by 11:15 only two more had arrived,
which included Leslie Durhman, the current OSA maven."
"Mr. Bungle" reported a protest at the Sacramento org.
"Today's (Saturday's) picket was rather uneventful. I arrived at the org
at around 1:30 pm and began picketing. For about forty-five minutes, there
was no response from the church. Then two people emerged from the entrance
to inform us that we should be picketing the 'psychs' instead. The whole
while we were getting cheers and honks from passing cars, and even got
some support from passers by on the sidewalk. Then, a tall gray haired
gentleman came out with a camera and pointed it at me and my friend, so I
struck a pose, making certain that my picket sign could not be left out of
the picture. Shortly thereafter, two other gentlemen came out and waited
for us to finish our circuit of the building. I snapped off a picture with
my own camera, and one got rather upset. He informed me that he was a
Graphic Designer from New Hampshire visiting Sacramento with his wife. He
then took out a camera and took a picture of me. The other guy who was
with him was silent the whole time. He was also very gaunt. I laughed
about the guy taking a picture of me, and then after asking my name and so
forth, the both retreated into the church. We left at four o' clock
exactly and went home unnoticed.
Vernon Cain reported the first known protests at the Hawaii org.
"I had stopped by the police station on the way to the site and advised
them of my intent as well as to expect a frantic call. I discussed my
intent and asked if a permit was needed. None was required for a simple
picket of less than a small crowd. One of the bOrg persons kept holding up
a package over the sign where I had the words - Don't ask the Dwarf why he
isn't OT!! I advised her that the act was being recorded and she backed
up.
"The Hawaii Police arrived in style! The foot officer arrived just seconds
before the little vehicle that jumped up over the curb to come close to
where I was standing. I was a little startled by the curb jump but was
soothed when I caught the officer's slight grin. The two officers had a
discussion with several very excitable bOrg members about how this was
their sidewalk and how this had never been done before and how they wanted
the protester removed for violating their rights to the sidewalk. The
officers explained my rights and theirs. They drove off. I kept picketing
and handing out fliers. Several passersby gave me high-signs and several
others had looks of agreement. There was fair foot traffic and good street
traffic. I kept walking until the meter expired and I had to go after
twenty minutes. During the entire time I was out there there was a
commotion inside. I saw some 9-12 persons come to see what was going on.
The OT type came out to 'handle me' and was immediately recessive when I
pointed out that he was doing 'picket chicken' by walking so close to me
blocking my way and that I would not put up with his 'OT Powerz!' if he
insisted on violating my right to free movement. He tried several times to
'Command Me' to leave. I was un-impressed. He slithered off."
"Yesterday I made another picket at the Hawaii bOrg. I just read the
fliers that the clams were passing out. It is in a booklet form titled
What is $cientology (WIS). Inside is a article called Personal Integrity.
As we arrived I could see the tall Asian gentleman, from a block away,
that works the Public area standing outside. As soon as he spotted me he
darted inside. As I arrived at the site three people, including him, left
to distribute the WIS booklets to the public on the streets. I estimate
their cost at between $0.70 and $1.00 each. They are four 8.5x11 sheets
full color saddle stitched with a post-paid request card insert. When they
later returned their one foot tall stack of fliers was gone.
"As a solo picket for about 40 minutes or so I paced about occasionally
stating my position on the 'SCAM', and 'BAIT and SWITCH.' At one point I
wanted to give the receptionist a copy of the newer flier. She declined to
accept directly. I offered that this flier was a little different and that
since she couldn't have direct contact with me would she accept my leaving
one here on her little table outside the door. She didn't object, and came
soon to retrieve the sheet.
"[A] militant hippie type woman with long straight hair returned with a
7-9yr old boy in tow I offered her a flier and a smile. She declined and
accused me of offering lies about the 'tech.' I offered to read aloud the
clip of OTIII in Hubbard's own handwriting. As I began to read the words
the receptionist lady bolted for the door and pulled them shut. A short
time later the tall older Asian gentleman, I think he is a Exec in the
Public Division, returned from passing out WIS and actually took a flier.
As he turned to the closed doors he crumpled the sheet aggressively at
about his eye-level. I could see that he was visibly upset. From time to
time the various staff would pause in the lobby area and just stare
through the window. They would stand motionless for moments just watching
me through the window. At times I would loudly state 'The Tech is a SCAM -
IT WILL NOT PROTECT YOU' 'Why am I still here!?'"
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Chicago Refund

Jim Beebe reported that a recent refund request in Chicago caused a noisy
incident.
"[A] very determined couple entered the Chicago Org recently and very
noisily demanded a full refund of money they had paid there. A great deal
of entheta ensued. A staff person named Mary Anne Ahmad threatened to call
the police and the determined couple reportedly expressed delight at the
chance to report to the police the details of how they had been scammed by
the Chicago Church of Scientology. The police were not called. [There is]
a marked uneasiness in the Chicago Org as more and more demands for
refunds are coming through the door."
Message-ID: 19991219232852.11401.00000050@ng-fb1.aol.com

John Travolta

A Scientology press release claims that the villain in the upcoming John
Travolta movie, Battlefield Earth, is one of the most notorious of the
20th century.
"Traditional figures in the roster of the arch-villains of books, film and
television -- Frankenstein's monster; Transylvania's blood thirsty gift to
the ghastly, Count Dracula and the entombed terror of ancient Egypt, the
Mummy -- took the lead in the survey by Dateline News Service with 50% of
those polled. But for a full 30 percent of the respondents, the 20th
century's most sinister characters were ominously newer: the visored
darkness of Star Wars' Darth Vader; the muzzled fury of Hannibal Lecter,
and the alien evil of Terl, the space villain of L. Ron Hubbard's science
fiction epic Battlefield Earth, whose nine feet of taloned, gas-breathing
menace -- personified by John Travolta -- is already giving film goers a
'teasing' glimpse on his way to filling the country's movie screens in
May, 2000."
The Miami Herald published an interview with Battlefield Earth director
Roger Christian.
"Though the 1,000-page novel is nothing more than pure, pulpy sci-fi
adventure, there are already grumblings that part of Travolta's interest
in the project is that it's an indirect way of raising scientology's
profile. 'Well, they are kind of synonymous,' he says. 'L. Ron Hubbard is
very famous for scientology and Dianetics. On the other hand, he's equally
as famous in the science-fiction world. So for people to think that -
look, I don't want everybody to try scientology. I don't really care if
somebody thinks that. I'm not worried about it. You can't be. The truth of
why I'm doing it is because it's a great piece of science fiction. I'm
going to be the wickedest nine-foot alien you've ever seen in your life.'"
From Eonline:
"It's a picture of Barry Pepper (The Green Mile, Saving Private Ryan) in
full regalia from John Travolta's pet sci-fi project, Battlefield Earth,
which is already test screening around Hollywood. Pepper is so geeked
about the movie he showed me a personal photo during the Green Mile
junket. 'It's really cool,' says Pepper, who stars as the film's hero,
Jonnie Goodboy Tyler. 'It's awesome.' Pepper, who isn't a Scientologist,
admits he was hesitant to join Travolta's galaxy quest to bring
Battlefield Earth to life. 'I wasn't sure. But once I got started, I had
the best time. It has nothing to do with Scientology, which was one of my
concerns, and that's the biggest question I'm going to have to answer.'
Oh, really?
"Considering Travolta's the most famous Scientologist ever (next to Tom
Cruise), and not withstanding recent Washington Post revelations that
Battlefield Earth sets up some major tenets of the church, that seems like
a stretch. As you probably know, the film is based on a novel by
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Pepper says the story, a Planet of the
Apes-meets-Star Wars sort of thing, is about 12-foot aliens mining Earth.
The creatures, led by Terl (a gruesome-looking Travolta), have imprisoned
missing-link humans."
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Ad Campaign

Chris Owen reported a new round of advertisements in the London
Underground this week.
"It's basically a rerun of the 'What Is Scientology?' campaign earlier
this year - posters advertising the new edition of the 'What Is
Scientology?' book. The campaign is being run by New Era Publications,
will probably cost tens of thousands of pounds a week and of course has
nothing to do with last week's decision by the Charity Commission to
refuse charitable status to Scientology or with the adverse publicity that
followed in the newspapers."
Mike Gormez reported that the campaign is also being run in The
Netherlands.
"The criminal cult has launched a massive advertisement campaign on Dutch
railway stations (Hengelo, Sloterdijk and Eindhoven etc). Which I suspect
is done by company TDI of Infinity Broadcasting, who bought Alrecon
recently."
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In Memorium

"The Exile" reported the recent deaths of two Clearwater area
Scientologists.
"Ruth Valko-Burness. She and her husband Kirk ran a consulting business
that promoted LRH tech and Scientology. I found her name on an flag OT
club list three years old. When Lisa McPherson was asked to write a
letter in support of Scientology for an area newspaper it was 'qualled' by
Valko and Associates. Ruth Valko-Burness died of cancer at the age of 48.
"Ellie Blankenship, OT Ambassador, also died of cancer. She was 55. She
gave large donations to Scientology and was very active on the local
scene."
Message-ID: 19991224050316.5278.qmail@hotmail.com

Atlanta Parade

The Atlanta Constitution reported on Dec 22nd that Scientology
participated in an interfaith parade.
"It rained on Ann Seidl's parade Tuesday, but that didn't dampen her joy a
bit. Seidl marched and sang with Christians, Jews and Muslims. Along the
way, she even made friends with a 17-year-old member of the Church of
Scientology. 'A Buddhist and a scientologist --- how cool,' Seidl said.
'This is like an early Christmas for me.' Forging relationships across
religious lines was the goal of Tuesday's event, officially labeled the
Interfaith Unity March and Convocation. It drew about 1,600 people.
"The march, sponsored by Atlanta 2000 Inc., a nonprofit organization
created by Mayor Bill Campbell, was designed to mark the dawn of a new
century by encouraging people of different faiths to form relationships."
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